Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Helpful Herbs before Fasting

As the scorching sun is at its zenith, the fast of
the Ninth of Av is before us. In Israel, this is the hardest of all the fasts,
as it starts at sundown on one of the longest and hottest days of the year. I
recall my first years in the Torah world. During most of the fast of Tisha
b’Av, I was thinking about watermelon rather than crying over the loss of our
dear Temple. Now, as a seasoned faster, the long summer fasts pass easily. The
hardest part is usually breaking the fast in a healthy, non-gluttonous way. In
Israel today, you can buy special herbal pills to take before the fast, but if
you prepare for the fast sensibly through diet and herbs, these pills are
unnecessary. Preparing for a summer fast entails keeping your system as
moisturized as possible to avoid excess thirst. First of all, start the day
before fasting by drinking a lot of water. Supplement with moisturizing and
demulcent herbal teas, listed further on, and possibly with a cup or two of
grape-juice.

Consume Slow Digesting Wholesome
Foods Prior to the Fast

The Temple Institute - Student Trip

In view of the long hours of the upcoming fast, it
is beneficial to consume slow digesting, fiber-containing foods rather than
fast-digesting foods. The satisfaction from slow digesting foods lasts up to 8
hours, whereas fast-digesting foods leave you hungry already 3 to 4 hours after
the meal. Slow-digesting foods include grains and seeds like wheat, spelt,
barley, whole oats, wild rice, millet, buckwheat, beans, lentils, whole wheat
or rye bread etc. (These are also called complex carbohydrates). Fast-burning
foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (These are also called
refined carbohydrates). Fiber-containing foods include whole wheat, bran, whole
grains, seeds and vegetables such as green beans, peas, beets, carrots,
spinach, beet-leaves (iron-rich) and fruits with their skin, especially dried
apricots, figs, prunes, almonds, etc. Eat a well-balanced meal containing foods
from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains. Make sure
to include complex carbohydrates during the pre-fast meal, so that the food
lasts longer, making you less hungry. From the fruit group, dates are an
excellent source of natural sugar, fiber, carbohydrates, potassium and
magnesium. Almonds are rich in protein and fiber with less fat. Bananas are a
good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates. Limit unhealthy fried,
fatty and sugary foods. They cause indigestion, heartburn, and weight gain. Do
not over-eat during the meal before fasting. Too much water or tea during the
meal before fasting causes more urination, which loses valuable mineral salts
that your body needs during the upcoming fast day.

Licorice – The Sweet Demulcent
Fasters’ Friend

Personally, the main herb I take before fasting is
licorice root. Among its many medicinal properties, licorice helps keep your
body liquefied. For that reason, it is contra-indicated for people who suffer
from edema. (Pregnant women and people with heart, liver or kidney issues
should also avoid licorice). Licorice root is a potent anti-inflammatory,
mild, natural laxative, expectorant, demulcent (soothing), mild sedative
and chi (energy) tonic. In
Chinese medicine, it has been used for centuries to improve energy,
alleviate coughs and colds, strengthen digestion, treat gastro-intestinal
problems, and female reproductive issues.As an anti-inflammatory and demulcent herb, licorice root brings fast
relief for sore throat, cough and colds. It is an effective
expectorant that alleviates dryness of the lungs, while helping to loosen and
expel mucus through coughing. In the medical journal Molecular and
Cellular Endocrinology, licorice was found to help the body more
efficiently regulate cortisol – the stress hormone – thus improving the
response to stress while giving the adrenal glands a break. One study published in Food
Chemistry, described licorice as having “antioxidant,
free-radical scavenging, immune-stimulating” properties. It clears heat,
detoxifies poisons, and relieves abdominal pains and spasms. Licorice
root also works as a natural remedy for ulcers and can be
beneficial for a leaky gut. Due to its estrogen-like effect, licorice is a
natural remedy in the treatment of menstrual- and fertility-related syndromes,
including PMS. For treatment of menopause, licorice was shown in a Health Care
for Women International study to be more effective than hormone replacement
therapy for reducing the duration of hot flashes. I make a licorice root
decoction by simmering the threaded roots in a large pot for 20 minutes. Then,
I drink the delicious sweet licorice tea throughout the day prior to fasting.
This drink helps me retain body fluids while preventing the loss of mineral salts
in the urine.

Herbs to Use Before Fasting

Fasting is actually healthy for both body and soul
when done properly, by eating and drinking before and after in a sensible,
self-disciplined way. Periodic fasting allows the digestive system to rest and
clear itself. A fast can have numerous health benefits, including
reduction of pain, relief from digestive upset, clearer thought processes,
weight loss, and general health improvement. In excess conditions, fasting and
the taking of bitter, eliminative and detoxifying herbs beforehand helps your
body cleanse itself and eliminate intestinal parasites. Some cleansing herbs
that enhance elimination include dandelion root, with its bitter, sweet and
cool energetics. It is used for all heated liver conditions, breast tumors,
abscesses, boils, fluid retention, stomach disorders, and constipation.
Dandelion root is one of the best remedies for treating hepatitis and a
possible preventative for breast cancer. Honeysuckle, with the same energetics
as dandelion is used for infections and inflammations with its broad spectrum
anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. It is very effective against
fevers, colds and flues and is regarded as a reliable antibiotic herb, similar
to Echinacea. Recent studies in China have found it to be effective in the
treatment of certain cancers, especially of the breast. It is useful for sore
throat and conjunctivitis, as well as inflammations of the intestines, urinary
tract and reproductive organs.

In addition to licorice, marshmallow root is also a
bitter, sweet, and cooling yin tonic that helps to moisturize the body prior to
a fast. It has nutritive, alterative, diuretic, demulcent, emollient, vulnary
and laxative properties. It treats wasting and thirsting diseases,
tuberculosis, diabetes, cough, dryness and inflammation of the lungs, gangrene,
septicemia, ulcers, kidney stones, difficult or painful urination and vomiting.
Similarly, Solomon’s seal is a sweet cooling yin and chi tonic, beneficial
before a fast due to its nutritive, expectorant, and mild diaphoretic
properties. In addition to being a heart tonic, it treats chronic wasting and
consumptive diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes, and dry cough. It also heals
broken bones and builds reproductive secretions. Slippery elm is one of the
most mucilaginous herbs, and good before a fast. This sweet, neutral herb is
also a yin tonic, with nutritive, demulcent, expectorant, emollient,
astringent, and vulnerary properties. It treats sore throat, coughs, bleeding
from the lungs and other lung problems, dryness of the throat, wasting
diseases, digestive problems and nausea.

Reconnecting with the Temple of Our
Soul

Once we have prepared properly for the fast of
Tisha b’Av, our mind and heart can be clear from thinking about food during the
fast. This allows us to focus on mourning for the Temple. Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler
writes that the purpose of mourning and suffering is to turn our heart away
from mundane affairs and cause us to abandon the idea that our salvation lies
in that direction. Then, it is possible to ignite the spark of truth in our
heart. When we get in touch with the true spark of our soul, it opens the way
to repentance, which is the greatest consolation. As long as we are unable to
rebuild the Temple in our soul, by reconnecting with our Divine spark, the
Temple in Jerusalem likewise lies in ruins. Until we are able to build a
permanent home for the Shechinah (Feminine Divine Indwelling Presence),
we experience both personal and cosmic exile, as the essence of exile is the
exile of the Shechinah. It follows that repentance, which ends the exile of the
Shechinah in the individual, is identical with redemption for that person.

Practical Tips for Breaking the Fast

Once the fast comes to an end, we hope that the
strengthening of our soul we experienced on Tisha b’Av will illuminate the rest
of our summer. Breaking the fast properly gives us the ability to take its
spiritual message with us into our mundane activities. It is important to make
a gradual transition back into eating, rather than stuffing ourselves or going
out to a sumptuous dinner. Breaking a fast must be planned and done carefully
and slowly to prevent overburdening the digestive system which has been at
rest. Therefore, it is especially important to eat slowly and chew our foods
very well. The first thing after a fast is to drink water. I drink about ¾
liter after the fast and every morning. I recommend drinking at least several
cups of water, and then waiting half an hour or at least 15 minutes before
eating. The first thing to eat after a fast and every morning is fresh fruit,
such as melon, grapes, peaches or plums. Then again, wait about 15 minutes
before eating the rest of your meal. Eat a nice light meal with veggies,
grains, and protein. Don’t forget to eat everything slowly and chew well. If you follow these guidelines, you will G-d willing feel
healthy and energized after the fast rather than tired out.

Hands On

During a fast, our body does not take in sufficient
energy but instead breaks down skeletal muscle and converts it into energy. The
first foods to consume upon breaking a fast are critical to nourish the body,
and should not expend much energy to digest and assimilate. Raw fruit juices,
smoothies and fruit contain much water content and are therefore easily
digested. You could break your fast by drinking a cup of freshly squeezed fruit
juice, followed by 2 cups of mixed fruit. Minimize citrus fruits at first since
they may feel too acidic in your stomach. Organic vegetables free of
pesticides, hormones and antibiotics are also ideal after a fast. A small salad
of fresh dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and cucumbers are easy on the
stomach and packed with nutrients. Make sure to add some mixed
sprouts, which digest easily and contain an abundance of concentrated
nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

3 comments:

Regarding the recommendation to drink grape juice before the fast...Did you mean before Yom Kippur? Isn't there a prohibition of drinking grape juice from Rosh Chodesh Av for Ashlenazom and from the Sunday before the fast for Sepharadim?

You are so right Miriam, grape juice is beneficial before a fast in general, but for Azkenazim we are prohibited in drinking wine or grape juice and eating meat from Rosh Chodesh Av and on. Thanks for pointing it out!

Please add that this year, as it was "nidcheh" even Ashkenazim were able to benefit from grape juice obn the day before the fast! I was thinking of you while drinking my grape juice on Shabbas! May we be "zochim" to have no Tisha B'Av fasting discussions next year (Becauses Moshiach has arrived, BE"H).Love, Miriam

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Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, a native of Denmark, is founder and director of Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin: Holistic Torah Study for Women on the Land. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Bible and Jewish Philosophy from Michlala Jerusalem College for Women, and a Masters of Art in Jewish History from Touro College. Rebbetzin Chana Bracha creates curricula emphasizing women's spiritual empowerment through traditional Torah values.